DJI Phantom Basic, What Is Gimbal Camera?

DJI Phantom invent Gimbal system on their drone cameras. What is gimbal? and how gimbal significantly increase the quality of image or video? We have the answer.

A gimbal is a pivoted support that allows the rotation of an object about a single axis. A set of three gimbals, one mounted on the other with orthogonal pivot axes, may be used to allow an object mounted on the innermost gimbal to remain independent of the rotation of its support (e.g. vertical in the first animation).

Gimbal system on Phantom 4. Image: Phantom 4 User manual, DJI

For example, on a ship, the gyroscopes, shipboard compasses, stoves, and even drink holders typically use gimbals to keep them upright with respect to the horizon despite the ship's pitching and rolling.

The gimbal suspension used for mounting compasses and the like is sometimes called a Cardan suspension after Italian mathematician and physicist Gerolamo Cardano (1501–1576) described it in detail. However, Cardano did not invent the gimbal, nor did he claim to. The device has been known since antiquity and may not have a single identifiable inventor.

The uses of gimbals system now involving in wide application. Gimbals are also used to mount everything from small camera lenses. Especially on drone quadcopter, gimbal used to mount camera for a clear and stable of image capturing.

Two gimbal operation are available on Phantom 4, these mode of gimbal switch easily by DJI Go app on your remote control.

Follow Mode set the angle between gimbal's orientation and your quadcopter drone nose remains constant at all times. But you can set the gimbal always synchronized with the movement of the aircraft to provide a first-person perpective flying experience.